Bayer Animal Health Partners With National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to Commit $100,000 to Domestic Violence Shelters Supporting Survivors and Their Pets

Amidst significant increases in domestic violence, Bayer and NCADV help shelters supporting those fleeing from physical, mental and emotional abuse with their pets

SHAWNEE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staying home is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19, yet home is not always a safe place for people who experience domestic violence. Due to increased demands on organizations providing services to families escaping abuse with their pets, Bayer Animal Health is committing $100,000 to help alleviate the amplified strains being put on domestic violence shelters and programs across the country. Organizations can apply for the funding this month through the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Established 40 years ago, the nonprofit reaches over 3,000 domestic violence shelters, programs and other agencies nationally by serving survivors and advocates.

According to NCADV, 10 million people are physically abused by an intimate partner each year, and 20,000 calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines each day. With COVID-19 forcing people to remain in their homes, these statistics are dramatically increasing.

“No one should have to choose between their safety and their pet,” said Lauren Dorsch, Deputy Director, Communications, Bayer Animal Health U.S. “We know that there are new difficulties and complexities in assisting survivors during this pandemic. Our hope is that this funding will help domestic violence shelters fill that gap that exists for families escaping domestic violence with their pets.”

Long committed to supporting families with pets, Bayer has been an advocate for the expansion of services to keep people and their pets safe together for over a decade. While a strong network of domestic violence shelters exists to provide women and children a safe place, there is a significant unmet need existing for families seeking shelter with their pets. Nearly half of abused women stay in their abusive relationships out of concern for the welfare of her beloved pet.¹

“Home is often times a dangerous place for survivors of domestic violence, and COVID-19 exacerbates the circumstances, due to the abusers’ ability to further control,” said Ruth Glenn, president and CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “Victims often have to consider not only their own safety, but the safety of their pets. They might not seek (or be able to seek) safety because they are also fearful their pet may be harmed or even killed by the abusive person, if left behind. With assistance from Bayer, shelters will now have the resources to help families who find a way to leave with their pets, ranging from housing fees to accommodate pets to veterinary bills and pet food.”

This funding program is open to 501(c)(3) domestic violence shelters with an on-site pet facility or domestic violence shelters who may need funding to help accommodate pets in the interim. To apply for funding or learn more about required criteria, click here. Deadline to apply is May 27, 2020. Recipients will be announced mid-June.

About Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

About National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

NCADV envisions a national culture in which we are all safe, empowered and free from domestic violence. Our mission is to lead, mobilize and raise our voices to support efforts that demand a change of conditions that lead to domestic violence such as patriarchy, privilege, racism, sexism, and classism. We are dedicated to supporting survivors, holding offenders accountable and supporting advocates.

Bayer Animal Health U.S. Social Media Channels

- Twitter: @Bayer4Pets

- Instagram: @Bayer4Pets

NCADV Social Media Channels

-Facebook: @NationalCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolence

-Twitter: @NCADV

-Instagram: @NCADV

Bayer® and the Bayer Cross® are registered trademarks of Bayer.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments

¹ Source: http://www.rosebrooks.org/services/pet-shelter